← Sir Gawayne and the Green Knight / An Alliterative Romance-Poem (c. 1360 A.D.)

XV

"I woled wyt at yow, wyȝe," þat worþy þer sayde,

"& yow wrathed not þer-wyth, what were þe skylle,

Þat so ȝong & so ȝepe, as ȝe [ar] at þis tyme,

So cortayse, so knyȝtyly, as ȝe ar knowen oute,

& of alle cheualry to chose, þe chef þyng a-losed,

Is þe lel layk of luf, þe lettrure of armes;

F[or] to telle of þis tenelyng of þis trwe knyȝteȝ,

Hit is þe tytelet, token, & tyxt of her werkkeȝ,

How le[des] for her lele luf hor lyueȝ han auntered,

Endured for her drury dulful stoundeȝ,

& after wenged with her walour & voyded her care,

& broȝt blysse in-to boure, with bountees hor awen.

& ȝe ar knyȝt com-lokest kyd of your elde,

Your worde & your worchip walkeȝ ay quere,

& I haf seten by your-self here sere twyes,

Ȝet herde I neuer of your hed helde no wordeȝ

Þat euer longed to luf, lasse ne more;

& ȝe, þat ar so cortays & coynt of your hetes,

Oghe to a ȝonke þynk ȝern to schewe,

& teche sum tokeneȝ of trweluf craftes.

Why ar ȝe lewed, þat alle þe los weldeȝ,

Oþer elles ȝe demen me to dille, your dalyaunce to herken?

for schame!
I com hider sengel, & sitte,
To lerne at yow sum game,
Dos, techeȝ me of your wytte,
Whil my lorde is fro hame."

wolde (?). In (?).